Silence Written in Stone
Henry walked along the shoreline, lost in thought and memories. He wasn't sure how to feel about any of this. Any of the last seven weeks. He thought back to the discussion he and the pirate had in Camelot, about building a future for Emma. About the house, and about what that future would look like for them and their friendship. He hadn't gotten a chance to know his own father much before he lost him and David and Robin tried and of course were there, but the two men had other children to look after and raise. Killian didn't have those other responsibilities - Emma and Henry were his first priorities.
The thirteen year old wasn't ready to fully admit it, even to himself, but he knew deep down what he started to think of Hook as. It made him feel all mixed up - he had so many conflicting feelings and wasn't sure how to handle them all.
Henry missed Hook a lot, and was angry at him and still hurt but was also happy to be down here to get him back, but he also hated him a little for even dying on them in the first place and sad that getting rid of The Darkness had resorted to this and…Henry signed and picked up a flat rock to skip. Hook taught him how and it made him miss him more and feel more angry and…he threw another stone. This one didn't skip, just landed into the water with a deep plunk.
He groaned and found another. This time, he was able to make it skip and that made a small smile appear on his face. He could never beat Hook's record - the man could always get out five or six skips. Henry was often lucky if he got two. He picked up another and then another and more after that.
The more stones he threw, the calmer he felt and the more his mind settled. After some minutes failing and succeeding in getting the stones to skip, he continued down the beach, picking up this shell and that shell. He sighed again and sat down on a bit of driftwood - he wasn't going to question where it came from.
Turning a large shell over in his hand, Henry thought back to the last time he spoke to Hook, the last time he saw him alive.
The library was a bust, nothing in these books were giving them any clue as to what Emma was planning. Henry dropped his head onto the table and let out a loud "Uuuggghhh."
He felt a hand on his back, trying to soothe in short passes - up and down, up and down. He and Belle were the only ones here today. The rest of the family didn't want him there when they confronted Emma.
"I don't need a babysitter! She's my mother, let me talk to her! Let me try!" He'd argued.
But Regina and his grandparents had been firm.
"You don't need to see this, Henry," his mom had argued back, "And we…we don't know what kind of state she'll be in. I won't risk your safety."
He'd argued for a long time, but eventually Belle stepped in and told him that she would need help with the research and Henry had no choice but to relent. Now he's wishing he'd kept arguing.
He was just picking his head up when the library door swung open with a BANG! Both Belle and Henry jumped at the noise and quickly turned at the intrusion. It was Hook, but he…he seemed different, somehow. More…something. And less…something…
But Henry didn't have time to wonder about that! He stood and raced to the man, "Did you find her - did you find Mom?!"
"Mm," Hook said, barely acknowledging him; his focus was entirely on Belle. "I need your help, Lass. For Emma."
Henry felt Belle sidle up next to him, he could feel how tense she was. Hook was still ignoring him and his face was stone. Whatever happened between him and his mom, it definitely wasn't good.
"What do you need, Killian?" she asked slowly, cautiously, "What happened?"
"Hook-" Henry started, but was cut off.
"Nothing concerning, I just need you to come with me. I've something to discuss with your husband and it would make it easier if you were there…to-mediate."
Henry's brow furrowed at the odd request. Hook hated Grandpa! What on Earth would he need to talk to him about? He felt the tension rise as he watched Belle watch Hook. Something weird was going on.
"Killian-"
"I'll not ask again, Lass" Hook said, voice deep and rough and-honestly-a little scary, "You will come with me to assist."
It happened so fast. Henry just barely caught Hook lifting his hand and only had a split second to think before he grabbed onto Belle's sleeve so they couldn't leave him behind.
Teleportation is weird and honestly unpleasant. It leaves you with a swooping feeling in your stomach and a strange smell in your noise and a light headache from the sudden whirl of air and space-time. Henry used to think it was the coolest thing. Fantasy novels were liars…
Also, the landing sucks.
Henry rubbed his head as he picked himself up off the floor of his grandpa's shop.
"Ow…" he muttered.
"Henry!" Belle dropped to her knees next to him, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he winced out, letting his grandmother help him stand. He looked around for Hook, and frowned when he saw him. He was off to the side, leaning nonchalantly against one of the glass displays, playing with his so-called moniker. Henry couldn't tell if he was deliberately blocking the door or not, but that didn't matter. He had to try again. "Hook-gah!"
With a wave of fingers, Henry felt the magic seep into his throat. He gasped at the same time Belle did. Hook…he had magic-and he used it to silence him! Henry felt the sting of tears as he stared disbelievingly at his-at the pirate.
"Killian!" Belle rounded on him angrily, "What the hell is going on! How could you!"
"I think I can answer that," Henry's grandpa said, stepping out from the backroom. "Clearly, our Miss Swan saw fit to split The Darkness in two."
The pirate smirked, still playing with his hook.
"Wait-Emma made you-a Dark One?" Belle asked haltingly. "Why-why would she do that?"
"The why's of it don't matter," Hook said, turning to grin a Gold. "The only thing on my mind is what this magic can do."
Henry watched, annoyed, as Gold rolled his eyes. Same, Grandpa! Same. He turned his glare at Hook, who-once again-was ignoring him.
"If revenge is what this is about," Belle said, putting herself in front of Henry, "Why do you need me? I know you, Killian-you're not going to kill me to get your revenge."
Hook didn't take his eyes off Gold, and Henry didn't take his glare off him. They didn't have time for any of this! Emma needed their help! But Henry found he couldn't move, too angry and betrayed to just leave.
Plus that would mean walking past Hook to get the door and he didn't want to find out what his emotions would be if he did and Hook…just let him. Without a glance. Without an apology. Without any kind of acknowledgement.
No, he didn't want to think about that at all.
"Like I said, Lass, I need you here to mediate. The Crocodile and I have unfinished business and the easiest way to get someone to do what you want is to have leverage." His smirk widened into a crazed smile. "Isn't that right, Rumpelstiltskin?"
There was an old cutlass resting on a shelf behind Hook, he snatched it up and sent it skidding across the wooden floor. Henry was forced back a little by Belle, as if the sword would nick them, but Henry knew-even now-that Hook would never let that happen.
Gold leaned forward on his cane, completed unamused, "What exactly is it you want? Belle's right, you won't kill her-even for leverage. And we both know, this sword can't kill you. Why the theatics in the first place?"
"Ah, maybe that sword can't kill me," Hook magicked another into his hand, "But this one can!" He pointed the sword directly at Gold, "And all you have to do is take it from me. Besides, just because I won't kill her, doesn't mean she won't be harmed."
It all happened in an instant.
Belle was in front of him, shielding him with her body.
Then she was in front of Hook and was letting out a painful grunt.
"No!" he heard his grandpa call out, angry and terrified.
And before he knew it, Henry was watching as Hook ripped out her heart and squeezed…
"Ah!"
"Stop it!"
...and he couldn't make a single sound.
"Come to the lake, Dearie. Defeat me and she'll get her heart back."
Then they were gone and his voice returned.
Henry sniffed and wiped a few stray tears from his eyes; it wasn't like he was ashamed to cry, he knew it didn't make him weak.
It's natural, Lad-it doesn't make you any less of a man.
But he spent so long this past week crying and he was sick and tired of it. That got another small smile, like mothers like son. And speaking of mothers…Henry turned his gaze back toward the small cottage. It was several feet away now, but he could still just barely make it, and the small crowd that was his family, out against the backdrop of beach and forest.
It was getting late-or at least, it felt like it was getting late-and he really ought to turn back, but he didn't want to. He knew that one look at his face and his family would be on him with annoying, but well-meaning inquiries about his mood. And he knew that, like back home when they asked those same questions, he wouldn't know what to say.
But it looked like his mom was getting everyone agitated and Robin wasn't doing a good job of talking her down. That meant she wanted to use magic for something, and it wasn't anything his grandparents approved of.
He took one last look at the sea - quiet and waveless. It wasn't right, Hook being someplace the ocean didn't move. So with a clap to his knees, Henry stood and made his way back toward his family.
Emma braced herself for another swipe; when Liam said "pet" she was not expecting a giant freaking three headed dog! Would any of this fairytale shit ever not be weird?!
"Dammit!"
She dove to the side, the beast's claws just barely missing her, and rolled in a move Killian taught her. Liam wasn't faring much better. Between the teeth, the claws, and the freaking tail, it was a miracle neither had gotten severely hurt yet, let alone killed.
"We can't just keep dodging!" Emma yelled to him.
"And what-" Liam jumped out of the way of another paw swipe "-do you suggest" - he dropped low - "we do?!"
Emma looked down at her hands; she hadn't used magic since she was freed from The Darkness a week ago and she honestly wasn't sure she could use it now. But they couldn't keep dodging forever, they had to go on the offensive.
"I," she started, stopped and swallowed, then stronger, "I have magic. I could-I don't know-summon a sword or something!"
Liam glared at her, "You have magic and decide to speak of it now!"
Emma glared back, "I haven't used it in-"
"I don't care, Your Highness-if you can conjure up weapons then do it!" He barked in a voice brimming with authority and impatience. The same voice her pirate used with them on the ship toward Neverland, and even with Arthur and Merlin in Camelot. A captain's voice.
She kept glaring, but Emma also took a moment to look inside herself, to ask the questions, "What am I doing this for? Whom am I protecting?"
Killian
She felt the heaviness of a broadsword in one hand and the lighter weight of a cutlass in the other. She tossed Liam the saber.
"Here!"
"Much thanks," he called back, sounding both genuinely thankful and annoyed by it. Whatever, they could work on the dislike later.
Emma readied her stance, just as her father showed her, and prepared to charge when a high, sharp whistle pierced the air. The dog (dogs?), just a second ago hovering with thick ropes of drool under glistening deadly teeth, vanished. Instead, Emma and Liam stared down at a…maybe cute? Three headed puppy.
"That is quite enough of that, don't you think? Can't have you hurt my dog."
They turned in unison, both still tensed and posed for battle. A tall, pale man with black hair in even blacker robes stood behind them…with…was that popcorn?
"Um…" Emma said eloquently.
Liam instantly lowered his sword and gave a deep, respectful bow, "My Lord Hades, please forgive us-we apologize for the intrusion and-"
Hades-freaking Hades?!-waved a carefree hand, "No need to be so formal, Captain. It's been quite a long time since you've made an appearance here. To what do I owe this millennium's visit?"
"What…?" Emma whispered, but she was ignored.
"It is my brother, Milord." Liam answered promptly, still not having risen from his bow, "He-well he's recently died and-"
"Ah," the Lord of the Dead interrupted, magicking away his popcorn (what the actual hell?!), "you've come to collect him."
"Yes, Milord, if your mercy sees it so fit."
"Mm, and who is this?" His piercing silver gaze made it to Emma. "Hoping to make another trade?"
"Excuse me!" Emma gasped, stepping back.
"No, Milord!," Liam jumped in, finally looking up, "She is my brother's love-here with me to bring him home. We would like to argue his case, if you would allow it."
Hades stared at them a long time; cold, calculating, but not entirely unfriendly either. Emma felt a chill go through her and sweat that wasn't actually there gather along her forehead. If he denied this, would that be it? Would there truly be no way to save Killian?
No! That wasn't an option-he shouldn't be down here! And Emma wasn't leaving without him, she didn't care whom she had to go through. Nothing and no-one would take Killian away from her again.
She watched, slightly unsettled, but still full of determination, as the Lord of the Underworld smiled and let out a soft, short chuckle.
"The former Dark One and the next Davy Jones-here to rescue the man who's escaped my domain for the better part of two centuries? Sure, why not-my schedule's free and I could use a laugh. Let's hear that argument."